I am in the process of selecting who's piston to use for my next motor. They will be for a 434 sbc (4.155 bore, 4" stroke, 6" rod). They will be a forged 2618, or 4032 alloy, with a ~20cc dish. Most manufacturers don't offer a dish of this size, requiring a modified, or fully custom, piston which equates to higher cost. Icon, however, offers dished 2618 pistons for very good prices. I spoke with support there today. They are made in Mexico, 2 miles over the border. They used to be made in the US just on this side of the border, then packed up all of their equipment and most people, and moved it over to the plant in Mexico. Same machines, same people, same processes, different location, so to me it doesn't seem like quality would suffer at all. Forged 2618 pistons for $500 bucks?

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/uem-ic612-030

Has anyone had any good or bad experiences with Icon or KB pistons? Wiseco's would be around $1,000.

JE and Wiseco will both cut whatever dish you want for not that much more than a shelf kit.

I've never heard of Icon. Sounds like a minor player. Why take the risk?

GD

Wiseco only adds $50 to modify a set of off the shelf pistons. Not bad at all. However, that piston is $970 to begin with before rings. So, the risk to me so far from everything that I have seen is: haven't heard much about them good or bad... actually reading online seems to be people have liked them. The reward is: save $500 to use towards cam/lifters/ignition system/etc. It is also worth noting that Icon pistons are being used in Jeff Lutz' 57 Chevy.

I am totally impressed with my KB hypers in my 334 SBC. The camshaft & lifters turned into a lathe and all of that shrapnel circulated throughout the engine, including the cylinder walls and piston skirts. But to my surprise, I was able to "pluck" that crap off of the skirts by dragging a razor blade held perpendicular to the surface, and then just cleaning them up with a scotchbrite pad. The cylinder bores cleaned up with a dingle ball hone, but it did take more than a few strokes. But the engine is running again.

2618 is pretty tough piston material. We use 2618 pistons in 4 cylinder engines making 700 HP and I've never seen one fail. If it's an all-motor application I'm sure you will be fine with *any* brand of 2618 piston. I can't see you making enough power to break one unless it had a manufacturing flaw.

I would be more concerned about things like the skirt design, ring pack (width, side clearance, etc), ring land accumulator grooves, possibly lateral gas ports (JE offers this), and other features. For an engine that size, if it is to see higher RPM and possibly some racing, could seriously benefit from lateral gas porting. It could mean 25-50 peak HP:

http://blog.jepistons.com/vertical-a...al-gas-porting

There's a LOT more to a piston than the alloy it's made from Everyone is using 2618 and that's a good thing because it's really strong. But because it's so strong and everyone is using it - it's also one of the least concerns I have.

GD

I can't see why I wouldn't try these out. I talked to Schneider Racing Cams today too, and he thought Icon was a good piston. I ordered a set from summit, price matched to Jegs for...... $446.99. I will take a good look at them, measure them up, and go from there. I can return if I want. The design may not be as great as the other high end pistons, we'll see. I do like the 0.220" top land. I don't believe it has any gas ports. It does have the thin 1.5/1.5/3.0 ring pack for a few extra hp. I will update when I receive them.

Using Icon's in my 355. Though my engine isn't a fire breather. My machine shop recommended them. Quality product from what I saw and trouble free 6 years later.

Good to know there's some good experiences. I may contact them about my shop's piston needs.

GD

The parent company of ICON and Keith Black is UEMpistons. https://uempistons.com
And they are GREAT to deal with.

Last 2 set I had in my shop the ring lands were very loose and had to hone the pin bores to get the correct clearance. The customers didn't save much money in the end. I don't care for the 1/16 rings

I use Mahle pistons where ever I can put them in on the SBC 1MM 1MM 2MM ring pack pin bores never need honing, Ring lands are spot on.

Quality is first

I will be sure to check that. they were too loose in the diameter or vertically? What don't you like about the 1/16 rings, but like about 1mm? I tried calling Mahle. Left a message and they never called back.

Not the radial clearance but Vertical clearance is sloppy. Some thing that is over looked, With there ring pack you can push the piston in with one finger, Complete short block takes appox. 9 LBS to turn the engine over.

My street and strip and all my circle track builds I use Mahle

http://www.us.mahle.com/media/motors...eb-version.pdf